2 Timothy 3:1-9

But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty.  For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.  For among them are those who creep into households and capture weak women, burdened with sins and led astray by various passions, always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth.  Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth, men corrupted in mind and disqualified regarding the faith.  But they will not get very far, for their folly will be plain to all, as was that of those two men.

The existence of injustice in this world is not a surprise to God and should not be a surprise to us.  As history progresses towards the return of Christ, we can expect that things will get worse before they get better.  Paul warns us of the corruption and rebellion that will become prevalent with the progression of time.  He exposes the strategy of those who promote rebellion.  Finally, he assures us that the rebellious will be brought to justice.  These are helpful truths as we live in these last days.

DESCRITPTION OF THE REBELIOUS: This list of almost twenty sinful attitudes and actions could be summarized as: excessive love of self and money, and lack of love for God and others.  As history has unfolded, we have witness mankind becoming more man-centered and prosperous.  The great commandment to love God and others has been replaced with loving self and things.  Predictably, this self-centered lifestyle has led to unprecedented levels of depression, anxiety, anger, violence, and immorality.  Paul warns us that this trend will get worse before it gets better.  At some point in God’s sovereign plan, Christ will return, and all the injustice and idolatry will be forever banned.

DESIGN OF THE REBELIOUS: Misery loves company.  Those who are living for their own pleasure cannot simply live this way on their own because the guilt would be overwhelming.  They must spread this godless living to others out of some sort of delusion that there is safety in numbers.  The favored target is the most vulnerable.  The go to the household of weak women out of a desire to capture their them in their own web of sin.  They feed off their passions and lack of leadership.  Paul is likely referring to widows or single women who are living on their own.  Single mothers and people who are lonely become targets for those looking to spread rebellion.  Sexual temptation and selfishness can easily infest the hearts of every person, but those who are separated from the immediate context of a family are especially at risk.

DESTINY OF THE REBELIOUS: The unjust may seem to prosper and grow in this fallen world.  Men have repeatedly tried to thwart the mission of God, but their efforts have been futile.  God remains securely on the throne and will eventually bring every person to justice.  The rebellious will be exposed just as the Egyptian men, Jannes and Jambres, who infiltrated the children of Israel at the Exodus, were revealed.  The reputation of the rebellious will always be negative.  However, the most sobering reality is that on the day of judgment all of their immorality and idolatry will be exposed before God and they will be eternally condemned.

APPLICATION: Be prepared to face the growing perversion that is infecting society.  Protect our hearts and the hearts of others from the influence of rebelliousness.  Practice living the Christian life in community and avoid isolation.  Don’t despair over the prosperity of the wicked.  Trust in the justice judgment of our God.